Peter Williams (businessman)

Peter Williams and Robert Shaw founded Jack Wills in 1999.^[3][4] Williams was 23 when the first store opened at 22 Fore Street, Salcombe and it was created with £40,000 – the founders slept above the shop.^[5] The brand was named after his grandfather, Jack Williams.^[6]

In 2012, Williams debuted on the Sunday Times Rich List, with an estimated worth of £200 million ($326 million).^[7]

In October 2016, Williams and private equity firm BlueGem became the joint owners, after long-standing investor Inflexion sold out after nine years.^[8] Williams owned 52% of the company,^[6] but ceased to have any role in the business following its collapse in 2019, which led to a buyout of the brand by Sport Direct (now Frasers Group).^[9]

Williams has known his wife, Laura Jane Williams, since he was 12 years old.^[10][11][1]